17 Day Best of Greece including Premier 7 Day Cruise

12 Dinner (D)
16 Breakfast (B)
6 Lunch (L)

Olympia: Say “opa!” to a traditional Greek experience with the Karabelas family on their olive and wine farm. Join the family for dinner and dancing, and learn about their history on the land.

Athens: Visit the Acropolis Museum containing remarkable antiquities giving visitors an insight into the lives of Athenians centuries ago.

Athens: Delve into Athens with a Local Specialist. See the iconic highlights of this ancient city, from the Acropolis to the site of the first modern Olympics.
Corinth: Cross the amazing rock-cut channel dividing the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. Join a Local Specialist and gain insight into Corinth’s eventful past.
Archaeological Site of Mycenae: Walk through the Lion Gate past the royal beehive-tombs where Schliemann uncovered golden treasure, while hearing tales of Agamemnon from your Local Specialist.
Archaeological Site of Olympia: Join a Local Specialist to view the stadium of Olympia which hosted the ancient Olympic Games and Heraia, the women’s games in honor of Hera. See the Temple of Zeus, athlete’s gymnasium and the stone marker where the sprint began.
Delphi: With your Local Specialist, walk to The Sacred Way once lined with offertory temples. See the reconstructed Athenian Treasury and pass the superb Polygonal Wall to reach the Temple of Apollo, where people once sought divine wisdom from the mysterious Oracle.
Thermopylae: See the Leonidas Monument dedicated to the brave warrior and his 300 Spartans.
Meteora: With a Local Specialist, visit one of the remarkable centuries-old monasteries of Meteora, teetering on towers of rock and arguably the most spectacular place to visit in Greece.
Thessaloniki: Stroll along the waterfront and admire the historic monuments of Greece’s second-largest city.
Ephesus: Discover one of the world’s finest ancient sites. Led by your Local Specialist, walk the Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and Amphitheater and visit the House of the Virgin Mary.
Mykonos: View the Windmills of Kato Mili and wander the beautiful blue and white streets of Chora.

Delphi: Meet passionate beekeeper Nikiforos at his honey farm for a taste of his special thyme honey, known to be one of the most nutritious in the world. See the bees thriving in their natural habitat and learn about their role in nature regeneration. This experience advances Global Goal 15: Life on Land. Traditionally a beekeeping area, Delphi has lost most of its beekeeping activity. The decline in bee populations has seen a significant loss of biodiversity. Thanks to their effort, Nikiforos and his family and rebuilding a local activity and directly contributing to regenerating the land.

Explore Athens, Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Corinth and village of Oia with a Local Specialist
Explore Athens, Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Corinth with a Local Specialist
Visit the Acropolis and Museum in Athens, the ancient ruins in Corinth, the ancient theater at Epidaurus, the Olympic Stadium in Olympia, the home of the Oracle at Delphi, and the incredible rock monasteries in Meteora, ancient Ephesus, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini, Milos and Mykonos
View the Parthenon, Royal Palace and Temple of Zeus in Athens, the Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus and the battle site at Thermopylae
See the Corinth Canal, the Lion Gate and Agamemnon’s Palace at Mycenae
Scenic Cruise along the Bosphorus strait

Delphi: Designed by renowned architect Nikos Valsamakis in 1965, the hotel is a notable example of postwar Greek architecture. It integrates seamlessly with the Delphic landscape, with rooms arranged to follow the terrain.

Start Day: 1
Duration: 1
Description: Put the ‘oh’ in opa and embark on an unforgettable exploration of an ancient land of gods and goddesses, myths and legends. Your springboard to your spellbinding holiday is the vibrant capital of Athens, an effortless mix of ancient treasures and modern verve, which you will have an opportunity to explore after being transferred to your hotel. This evening, join your Travel Director and travel companions for a light meal.
Accommodation: Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Meals: Dinner
LocationsVisited: Athens

Start Day: 2
Duration: 1
Description: Join your Local Specialist for a guided morning sightseeing tour to the ancient complex that was once the ‘Cradle of Western Civilization’. Along our journey into antiquity, we’ll have an opportunity to explore the Acropolis with its treasures and admire the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena,the Royal Palace and the Temple of Zeus. Dive Into Culture and see remarkable displays of an ancient world during an included visit to the Acropolis Museum, and see Hadrian’s Arch and the stadium where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy on your own. Stroll through the Plaka, people-watch in Syntagma Square or go in search of the city’s tastiest souvlaki – the choice is yours.
Accommodation: Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Meals: Breakfast
LocationsVisited: Athens

Start Day: 3
Duration: 1
Description: We depart Athens this morning, crossing the mighty Corinth Canal to the wild Peloponnesian Peninsula. Arriving in Corinth, we join a Local Specialist to explore an ancient city that several empires fought over throughout the centuries. We continue to Mycenae, a mighty kingdom of Ancient Greece, where we’ll see the Beehive Tombs (the Treasury of Atreus), the Lion Gate and the remains of Agamemnon’s Royal Palace, in the company of a Local Specialist. Later, we’ll travel to Epidaurus to visit the ancient theater and view the Sanctuary of Asclepius, the God of Medicine, whose snake-entwined staff remains the symbol of medicine to this day. Arriving in the Venetian town of Nafplion later, we’ll dine in our hotel this evening.
Accommodation: Amalia Nafplio
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Athens, Corinth, Archaeological Site of Mycenae, Nafplion

Start Day: 4
Duration: 1
Description: We traverse the Mountains of Arcadia to ancient Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games held in 776 BC. This evening, we Connect With Locals joining the Karabelas family for dinner on their olive and wine farm at a Be My Guest experience featuring traditional dancing and characteristic Greek philoxenia.
Accommodation: Amalia Olympia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Nafplion, Olympia

Start Day: 5
Duration: 1
Description: We join a Local Specialist this morning to delve into centuries of history. We’ll visit the ancient Olympic site, the museum and the ruined remains of the Temples of Zeus and Hera. Leaving Olympia, we skirt the coastline north to Patras, crossing the Gulf of Corinth to mainland Greece before continuing to Delphi, where you may wish to try your hand at preparing some local dishes during an interactive cooking lesson.
Accommodation: Amalia Delphi
Meals: Breakfast
LocationsVisited: Olympia, Delphi

Start Day: 6
Duration: 1
Description: Tread in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, who would descend on the sanctuary of Delphi to consult with the most important oracle in the classical world. Join your Local Specialist and walk the Sacred Way to the 4th-century Temple of Apollo. View the statues immortalising the strength of the athletes who once competed in the Pythian Games, held in honor of Apollo and the Arts. Continue on to a family-ran honey farm for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Taste the rich thyme honey freshly collected from the hive and come up close to the unique biodiversity of the area. A scenic afternoon drive brings us to Thermopylae, famous for the heroic defense by Leonidas and his brave Spartans against the invading Persians. We cross the lush Thessaly region, traveling north through the ‘breadbasket of Greece’ towards Kalambaka.
Accommodation: Amalia Kalambaka
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Delphi, Thermopylae, Kalambaka

Start Day: 7
Duration: 1
Description: The UNESCO World Heritage monasteries of Meteora are our first stop today. Join a Local Specialist to visit two of the six Eastern Orthodox monasteries that cling impressively to immense, rounded rock towers overlooking the town. A scenic drive returns us to Athens, where we’ll enjoy a rousing Farewell Dinner with our travel companions and reminisce over an incredible journey through Greece.
Accommodation: Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Kalambaka, Athens

Start Day: 8
Duration: 1
Description: Spend the day at leisure and see the city’s ancient sites.
Accommodation: Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Meals: Breakfast
LocationsVisited: Athens

Start Day: 9
Duration: 1
Description: Spend the morning on your own exploring what was once the ‘Cradle of Western Civilization’. See the city’s ancient sites before boarding your cruise ship this afternoon for your seven-day cruise through the Aegean.
Accommodation: MV Celestyal Journey
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Athens

Start Day: 10
Duration: 1
Description: Today you will have time to explore Greece’s second largest city. Walk along the waterfront and enjoy the many cafes along Aristotelous Square and see ancient monuments such as the Arch of Galerius.
Accommodation: MV Celestyal Journey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Thessaloniki

Start Day: 11
Duration: 1
Description: Arrive in Kusadasi, your gateway to the ancient City of Ephesus. You’ll join an included Ancient Ephesus sightseeing tour revealing the Hellenistic and Roman heritage of this UNESCO-listed site. Stroll along its marble colonnades and admire the façades of the Library of Celsus and Temple of Artemis before returning to your ship for your evening departure.
Accommodation: MV Celestyal Journey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Kusadasi

Start Day: 12
Duration: 1
Description: Start your morning on Crete, Greece’s largest island, and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. Home to myths and legends, including Zeus’ birthplace and the Minotaur, you may choose to embark on an epic tour to the capital city of Heraklion and absorb the rich history of Europe’s first advanced civilization with a visit to King Minos’ Palace in Knossos. Alternatively drive deep into the beautiful countryside and experience the true flavor of Cretan lifestyle.
Accommodation: MV Celestyal Journey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Crete

Start Day: 13
Duration: 1
Description: Wake up in Sunny Santorini the Cycladic Island with sheer cliffs and dazzling panorama. Explore the capital of Thira, with its clifftop restaurants and cafés, breath-taking views, and amazing sunsets. You could consider an optional Shore Experience this afternoon, passing villages and vineyards bound for Oia with its white buildings and blue-domed churches which vie for the best views over the caldera. This evening is free for you to explore Santorini’s buzzing nightlife.
Accommodation: MV Celestyal Journey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Crete, Santorini

Start Day: 14
Duration: 1
Description: Enjoy a full free day to explore the narrow rambling streets of Chora, strolling past white-washed cottages and tumbling cerise bougainvillea in search of a quiet spot overlooking the Old Port with a refreshing drink. You could choose an optional visit the Sacred Island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, where an archaeological treasure trove awaits.
Accommodation: MV Celestyal Journey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Mykonos

Start Day: 15
Duration: 1
Description: Dock in the former home of the famous Venus de Milo. There’s time to explore the ‘Island of Colors’ on an Optional Experience, alternatively you may prefer trek to the heart and soul of Milos sampling the best of local cuisine on the move, in a tour designed to stimulate and excite the senses. Depart this evening for Athens, celebrating a final evening on board with new friends.
Accommodation: MV Celestyal Journey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LocationsVisited: Mykonos, Milos

Start Day: 16
Duration: 1
Description: This morning, disembark from your cruise ship and transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis
Meals: Breakfast
LocationsVisited: Athens

Start Day: 17
Duration: 1
Description: Transfers are provided to the airport for your return flight home.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast
LocationsVisited: Athens